BAMBI KOHLER: A true religious experience

“Awe, you’re my little medigan,” I say using the Italian slang as a term of endearment. I love that my non-Catholic, non-Italian husband has taken a liking to my own religious and cultural traditions.

As a Catholic, I am aware of the church’s image as its problems are well known. According to CNN, one in 10 Americans is an ex-Catholic. Those figures are reflected in attendance at mass and the declining number of people at the some of the yearly feasts.

Catholics aren’t all about the sinning and sacrifice. They recognize the need to give thanks and throw a party for the blessings they have received. The feasts serve as a celebration to honor the patron saint of the individual parish.

“Feast season”, for as long as I can remember, began in early June with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast and went through August with the Holy Saviour Feast and the M.S.S. Feast in Norristown.

The M.S.S. Feast remains dearest to me since my great-grandparents immigrated from Sciacca, where the feast originated. After walking in the procession in the late summer heat, a bountiful buffet of pork sandwiches and fried dough awaited. Everyone you knew went to the feast. Former classmates, teachers, the guy that flips off people at the corner, and relatives you only saw at weddings and funerals.

During the weekend of July 12, Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Ford Street and Union Avenue in Bridgeport will hold the area’s biggest Italian Festival when up to 10,000 people flood the feast grounds.

The event remains popular by offering something for everyone. They have the traditional fare – porchetta sandwiches, fried dough, la trippa, and suffrito. The Verdi Band will perform on Saturday to fulfill the requests for “Buona Sera Signorina”.

From attending the feast religiously – pun intended – I have noticed that a big part of their success is their efforts to make it a community event.

Tom attended his first feast at my request more than 10 years ago. I sent him to wait in the infamous ticket line. Tip for you feast rookies – no cash is taken at the food stands. First, stop at the table usually manned by the oldest parish member who is exchanging cash for tickets. Don’t think about bringing your debit card. Their cash register is sometimes an old cigar or toolbox.

Still standing in line for pork sandwiches, Tom handed me tickets when I saw him eating a hot dog.

“What are you doing?” I said slightly embarrassed.

“I got the tickets,” he said innocently handing them over to me.

“No. Why are you eating a hot dog?”

“I’m going to get French fries later,” he said still not catching on.

“No, you’re not. You’re going to eat a pork sandwich,” I said.

“I never had a pork sandwich. I may not like it,” he said taking the last bite.

This was a huge revelation. “Feast pork” is a delicacy that is impossible to replicate. Like Manco and Manco pizza on the boardwalk. A Philly cheesesteak eaten on a stainless steel stoop. Maryland Blue crabs at a shack down the shore on a table covered in newspaper.

I looked at this poor lost soul who also had no idea what fried dough really was and shoved a pork sandwich in his hand demanding he try it if he really loved me.

He liked it. How could he not enjoy its perfect blend of spices on that slightly soggy Kaiser roll?

We proceeded to the uber popular beer garden. An adults-only oasis that offers a number of alcoholic drink and live bands performing each night. I know I had a blast last year, and judging by the 80 half-kegs consumed over three nights so did you.

Maureen McQuaid, Business Manager for the parish and Feast coordinator has been a part of the grand feast for about 20 years. A lot more goes into it than setting up some tents and the Big Six wheel. Preparation beings on June 15th and some members of the parish volunteer 2-3 hours each night.

The Bridgeport Ribhouse prepares the crave worthy pork debunking my theory that the grandmother who made the best pork in town was elected to do it. Besides there is a big difference in preparing a roast for a family of four and readying the estimated 1,500-pounds of pork the feast will use.

How about that greasy, sugary fried dough? They will go through a ton of it this weekend. Literally. 2,000 pounds of flour.

It sounds like a pretty big party because it is. It is a celebration of faith but like any good Italian party it revolves around good food and good friends.

Katie Bambi Kohler is a Norristown native and a current resident of King of Prussia. Visit her blog at www.cheesesteakprincess.blogspot.com. Follow her on Twitter @chzstkprincess.